Air-conditioning is the most popular feature among homebuyers

Australia’s sweltering summer of record temperatures may be guiding our taste in homes.

New research shows air-conditioning has come up tops in a list of the most sought after home features.

The Finder.com.au data surveyed homebuyers from across the country and found that 65 per cent considered air-conditioning an essential feature in their home.

Darren Clarke with daughters Willow and Tallula at their Birchgrove home for sale. The family are thankful they had air-conditioning this summer. Pic Brett CostelloSource:News Limited

This was a considerably higher proportion than the 52 per cent who viewed a backyard as important and the 17 per cent who put a high value on having a dishwasher.

“The more demand there is for a particular feature — the more value it will add to a property,” Finder.com.au’s consumer advocate Bessie Hassan said.

“An overwhelming majority of homebuyers have air-conditioning at the top of their wish list.”

23 Read St, Bronte is for sale at $2.75 milllion. Most buyers would prefer backyard space over a swimming pool.Source:Supplied

A reliable cooling system was part of a trio of items that nearly every homebuyer wants, Ms Hassan added.

“A home needs to have air conditioning, a backyard and somewhere to park the cars to command big bucks these days,” she said.

Belle Property agent Monique Dower said the findings reflect much of the feedback she is getting from buyers going through open homes, who have expressed strong interest in air-conditioning.

She added that in regions like Sydney’s inner west, most homes already have air-conditioning, but considering the recent weather it has become “much more of a thing for buyers”.

Swimming pools are the most popular with gen Y buyers.Source:Supplied

Other results from the survey showed buyers put a higher priority on solar panels than swimming pools and few consider water features or built-in barbecues as must haves.

More than half of female buyers in the survey wanted backyards, compared to less half the men.

But almost two in three male buyers wanted a garage, compared to the 58 per cent of women who considered it a priority.

Gen Y buyers were the most likely to want a dishwasher.

For NSW buyers, a carport or garage was the most desirable feature in a home. Other popular items were solar panels and a deck.

The least popular feature across the country was a garden gnome.

Larger space remains high on the wish list of buyers with kids. Darren Clarke is selling his three-bedroom Birchgrove home, a modern family townhouse at 2 Lizzie Webber Place, and said he’ll be looking for a large backyard in his next home.

“We really benefited this summer from the location of our current home, which is on a peninsula that gets a great breeze off the water, but with two growing kids it’s time to get something bigger,” he said. His home goes to auction April 2.

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR FEATURES

Air-conditioning

Carport/garage

Garden/backyard

Solar panels

Deck/pergola

Originally published as Most popular home feature isn’t what you’d think